Chapter 17
Rivi
Even as we did the dishes together, my body was still tingling from what we'd done in front of the fire.
It might not seem like much to Briar, but to me kissing the way he had done it to me felt like making love.
Sex. We still had so much further to go, and that excited me more than I had ever dreamed of.
“All right. Now it's off to bed for you. And for me.” Briar smiled. “In separate rooms, of course.”
He beckoned me toward him where he stood at the entry to the kitchen. I went up to him and took his hand.
“Perfect,” he said.
“Wait….”
“What?”
“We have to get Santa.”
We went back down the chilly hall and retrieved the lost Santa. Briar still carried my present from Trent for me.
Together we went up the stairs.
When we reached my door, Briar let go of my hand and put both palms on my shoulders.
I looked up at him. He leaned down and I prepared myself for another one of his miraculous kisses.
Instead, he kissed me on the side of my head like I was his friend.
His affectionate friend. It startled me and pleased me at the same time.
It communicated respect and a kind of proprietary gesture that made me feel like I belonged.
It wasn't just about lust. It wasn't just about how he could get my clothes off me and into his bed. It was more than that.
I was new to all of this, so I questioned if I was reading the signs correctly.
But it felt right. Like everything was just clicking into place.
Santa was on his way and my life had just changed completely.
It was the best Christmas Eve ever. At least, starting after my icy nap on the bench at the end of that cold, dark hall.
Like a perfect gentleman, Briar opened my door for me and gestured me to go inside.
“Have a good sleep, little Pan.”
My heart filled up to hear him say those words again. Little Pan.
“You, too.”
“Have dreams of sugar plums dancing in your head. And when you wake up, I'll be there with you for breakfast.”
Reluctantly, I let go of his hand. “You sleep well, too.”
“I'll try but I'll be missing you in my arms. I think that's where you need to be. But first we'll have our date. Deal?”
I nodded. “Deal.”
“Goodnight, little Pan.”
When the door closed, I set down my game box and Santa, and leaned up against the back of it, my arms crossed over my chest. It was as if my heart wanted to leap from me. I was tingling all over.
My first kiss. My first boyfriend. My first date which would happen on Christmas Day. I wanted to shout it to the world.
Once in high school, another boy and I started to fool around. He was all grabby and wanted to touch my crotch and ass. I’d gotten too nervous and ran away. We’d never gotten to the kissing stage, let alone talked about dating. That was all the experience I’d had, and it wasn’t good.
Now it was like a whole world had opened up.
It had been such a good decision for me to get up the courage and go shopping last week.
That kink store had been on my radar for a while.
If I hadn’t gone when I had, I wouldn’t have seen the poster for Santa at the club.
I wouldn’t have overheard the other customers talking about Uncle Trent.
At that point, it was like everything in my life started to fall into place.
I picked up Santa and bounced over to my bed. I placed him on the pillow, then went into the bathroom to get ready for sleep.
My onesie had gotten hot, so I stripped and came out in only my underwear. Everything down there pulsed. One touch, and I’d be gone.
I grabbed a towel and lay down, pushing my underwear to my thighs.
It was over in a minute.
All because of Briar.
I lay back in the darkness refreshed and suddenly very tired. I curled into the covers and fell instantly to sleep.
“Merry Christmas, Uncle Trent.” I gave him a big hug.
Ozzy was running around the dining room in what looked like brand new, satin pajamas with big fluffy slippers in the shape of reindeer heads complete with antlers. He had a pile of new stuffed animals he kept crashing his body into and giggling every time.
Christmas Day came with the excitement of childhood.
I looked around for Briar, but he hadn’t yet arrived.
The buffet was steaming in its hot trays. A server was cooking fresh omelets to order. About six other guys had already arrived and were eating and talking around the big table.
“Merry Christmas, Rivi.” Uncle Trent hugged me back. “You look like you’re glowing.”
I decided to wear my Christmas tree shirt with pajama pants, the ones with ducks on them. I had on a jingle bell necklace which I’d gotten at the dollar store.
“It’s Christmas. That always makes me happy.”
“Is that what it is?” He hmphed. But his eyebrows didn’t narrow like he was suspicious or mad.
“Yes. And Briar is taking me on a date tonight. My first ever real date.” I gulped. “Are you mad? He’s real nice. He hasn’t touched me except for maybe a first kiss.” The words rushed from my mouth so fast I wasn’t sure what I’d said.
“A kiss, eh?”
I grimaced, waiting for the next shoe to drop.
“Well, I guess that’s something you’ve been waiting a long time for,” he added.
“Yes…?”
“You really like him, don’t you.” It wasn’t a question.
I rapidly nodded. “You don’t approve, I know. But Briar said he talked with you.” I stepped closer to Uncle Trent until I could smell his fresh cologne.
“He did.”
“Are you mad?”
“No.”
“I’m ready, Uncle Trent. Briar makes me feel little like I’ve always dreamed. He validates me. No one’s ever done that before.”
“Your mama and I validate you, honey.”
“Yes, but as family. Parents. This is… this is different.”
“How well I know.” The words came out in a big sigh.
“I’m twenty-one, now.” I said the words defensively.
Uncle Trent took my hand and led me over to a couch. He sat and then took both my hands in his as I stood in front of him.
“Rivi, tell me honestly. Are you ready? Age doesn’t matter as much as your state of mind.”
“I want to experience having a daddy. I want it more than anything.”
“And the party. Are you ready for that? I’ll be having day guests come for it. It might get a little wild.”
My eyes widened. “I think so. I am very curious. It gets X-rated, right?” My face heated.
“Later into the night, yes, it could. Ozzy isn’t an exhibitionist. Not anymore. His ex made him do things in front of crowds and that now gives him PTSD. Just so you know, I won’t be embarrassing you.”
“You could never embarrass me, Uncle Trent.” I realized how na?ve I sounded only after I said that. To imagine him naked and in sexual positions was something I’d never ever done. He was my uncle. He wasn’t my daddy.
“I didn’t think about that. Will anyone expect that from me?”
“Never. You choose. You consent or you don’t. Those are strict rules. Everyone knows them.”
“Is Briar an exhibitionist?” I asked slowly, my head down.
“You need to talk to him about that. I’ve known him for over ten years. We were both young and wild once. But time changes people.”
“People like you?”
“Yes. Ozzy means everything to me now. I don’t want what he doesn’t want. That’s my internal daddy self. It’s about what I want in a little and how to treat them. I want everything to be for him and about him. He is the center of my life and that’s my choice.”
Uncle Trent amazed me. His words were exactly like my own fantasies. Everything I wanted he had put in a nutshell. Who would ever have known I would grow up to be like him? Except not a daddy. I was a little through and through.
When I walked away from him, I felt lighter all over.
I set up two places at the table, one for Briar and one for me side by side. I made everything neat and perfect with Christmas ornaments stolen from the big tree in a half-circle around our plates.
“Looks great, Rivi,” one of the men observed from across the table. All I knew was his name was Alan, and he was as devastatingly handsome as the rest, but not as good-looking as Briar. None of them were as lovely as my daddy.
“Thank you.”
I didn’t want to get my food before Briar. I sat and sipped orange juice and waited.
When Briar walked through the door my heart leaped up. I stood and jogged toward him, noting that Uncle Trent was watching.
“Merry Christmas!” I skidded to a stop directly in front of him.
“Merry Christmas, Rivi.” He held out his arms. “Do I get a hug?”
I was ready. I reached around his chest and lay my head between his pecs, my glasses going askew. He smelled like berries and whipped cream.
His arms went around my shoulders, and he lightly kissed the top of my head.
When we pulled back, I dragged him to the table. “Look. I set up our places.”
“Beautiful,” he breathed. He caressed my cheek. “It looks wonderful. Were you waiting for me?”
“Yep. I didn’t eat a bite yet.”
“Well let’s go grab some food.”
“Yay!” I picked up my plate and went straight to the omelet guy.
Even after last night’s late feast by the fire, I was hungry. But my eye was on Briar more than food.
Tonight was our date. I couldn’t wait to be alone with him, no one watching, and see if afterwards he might give me more than a good night kiss before bed.